Plainview's Rudman Family Food Pantry And The Nutty Irishman Team Up For Fundraising Event

FARMINGDALE, NY — The Rudman Family Food Pantry has been supporting its Long Island community for more than 10 years — and now, will continue those efforts by hosting a fundraising concert on Wednesday night at the Nutty Irishman in Farmingdale.

Cruisin' for a Cause is a fundraising concert that will feature a night of Yacht Rock. There will be live performances by The Yacht Lobsters, which feature soft rock hits from the '70s and early '80s.

The fundraising event will take place at the Nutty Irishman at 323 Main St., in Farmingdale on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Director of Volunteer Services Gail Warrack said she hopes the event will raise awareness about the work the pantry does.

"Many people may not realize that the Mid-Island Y JCC has a community food pantry, so we want to spread the word," she said. "We also hope to bring in more donations while showing our donors the real impact their support makes."

CEO of Mid-Island Y Jewish Community Center and Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center Rick Lewis added that spreading the word about the pantry is key to helping those who need it. More than 313,000 people on Long Island face food insecurity, according to the food pantry.

"While it is very important for us to raise funds to meet the needs of the community, it is even more important for us to raise awareness," he said. "Many people think Long Island is a wealthy community; however, there is a significant pocket of food insecurity. That is why we need to help fill the gaps."

The food pantry is located at the Mid-Island Y JCC in Plainview and stepped up to help when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits were put on hold. The food pantry serves nearly 200 families each month and distributes 40,000 lbs. of food, toiletries, and household supplies annually. The pantry said they also deliver meals to seniors monthly and provide Shabbat packages to Holocaust survivors.

"I am looking forward to people coming out and having a good time. We live in a crazy world, and it's nice to bring people together to sing, dance, and enjoy time with their friends," Lewis said.

The event will include fundraising activities, refreshments, and raffles; all proceeds will support the pantry, including perishable items for the pantry to distribute.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, or at the door night of.